West Des Moines Police Seek Owner of Lost Purse Filled With Used Syringes

West Des Moines Police would like to know who lost a purse turned in last week, but so far, no one has stepped forward to claim it.

The purse, which contained used syringes, narcotics and other suspicious items on March 6, was found near Normandy Terrace Apartments, 1970 Grand Ave., by a passerby.

The witness told Officer Jacob Rolph that as he was waiting for authorities to arrive, a man and woman who had left Normandy Terrace Apartments told him the purse belonged to the woman and asked that it be returned.

When the witness said authorities had been called, “the two quickly left the area,” according to Rolph’s report.

In addition to an undisclosed number of used syringes, all of which had been capped, the purse contained five pills believed to be narcotics, a spoon, cotton pieces, butter knives, scissors and nail clippers, according to the police report.

Police said nothing was found in the purse that would reveal the identity of the owner; however, two names and phone numbers were written on a small slip of paper found in the purse.